Storage racks

ABSTRACT

Storage racks including fore-and-aft aligned upright trusses extending upward from the floor and having vertical columns interconnected by spacers extending therebetween. A rear column extends to the floor, and a bottom member located adjacent the floor extends forward from the lower end thereof A front upright terminates short of the floor and is structurally interconnected with a depending strut which is disposed rearward thereof. Parallel vertical columns spaced laterally of the truss define a storage bay therebetween. The recessing at the front of the truss provides maneuvering room for lift trucks and thereby reduces the width requirements for service aisles.

United States Patent 1191 Konstant 1*Jan. 15, 1974 1 STORAGE RACKS [22] Filed: May 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 249,010

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 67,124, Aug. 26,

1970, Pat. No. 3,659,723.

52 115.0 ..211/134, lO8/l08,2ll/l5l 51 Int. Cl. A47f 5/00 [58] Field of Search 211/134, 148, 177,

211/151; 108/108, 109, 48; 52/655, 637, 638, 648; 214/164 A,-16.4 B, 16.4 C, 16.4

2,636,224 4/1953 Murdoch et a1. 108/48 X 2,815,133 12/1957 Asheim et a1 2l4/l6.1 3,323,655 6/1967 Foran et a1. 211/134 3,593,823 7/1971 Thompson 214/164 B X 3,659,723 5/1972 Konstant 211/134 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 151,870 6/1953 Australia 108/108 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorney-Fitch, Even, Tabin & Leudeka [57] ABSTRACT Storage racks including fore-and-aft aligned upright trusses extending upward from the floor and having vertical columns interconnected by spacers extending therebetween. A rear column extends to the floor, and a bottom member located adjacent the floor extends forward from the lower end thereof A front upright terminates short of the floor and is structurally interconnected with a depending strut which is disposed rearward thereof. Parallel vertical columns spaced later'ally of the truss define a storage bay therebetween. The recessing at the front of the truss provides maneuvering room for lift trucks and thereby reduces the width requirements for service aisles.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures STORAGE RACKS This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 67,124, filed Aug. 26, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,659,723.

This invention relates to storage racks and more particularly to improved versions of storage racks designed for the high density storage of goods delivered to the storage regions by power-driven lift equipment.

In the past years or so, the advancing design of new and improved storage racks and storage systems has revolutionized many aspects of the warehousing industry. There are numerous advantages to the efficient storage of goods in an. orderly fashion upon rack structures, rather than stacked one atop another on individual pallets piled on the floor. One example of such an improved storage rack is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,932,368, issued on Apr. 12, 1960 to Burt E. Schell, Jr., which discloses a selective type storage rack wherein the storage configuration can be easily altered to change the heights of the tiers in the storage bays as a result of the employment of an improved structural lock for connecting the horizontal beams to the vertical columns of the rack. Another improved storage rack is the drive-in storage rack shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,963,169 issued on Dec. 6, 1960 to Anthony N. Konstant, which is designed to permit pallet storage of goods several bays deep and several tiers high serviced from a central aisle.

Inasmuch as the aisle space through which goods are supplied to the storage rack structures is usually unavailable for storage, the aisle space subtracts from the practically available storage space in a warehouse configuration. Improved versions of storage rack structures are always desirable.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved storage rack structures designed for service with power-driven lift equipment. Another object of the invention is to provide storage rack structures which as a result of their improved design can be used with narrower aisles between adjacent racks. A further object of the invention is to provide improved storage rack structures which are less susceptible to damage when being supplied with goods via power-driven lift equipment.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of storage rack structuresembodying various features of the invention when read in combination with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a storage rack structure embodying various features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, reduced in size, of an alternative embodiment of a portion of the storage rack structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a drive-in storage rack embodying various features of the invention;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 are views, reduced in size, of alternative embodiments of partial truss constructions suitable for use in the storage rack structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 8 is a view, reduced in size, of an alternative embodiment of a partial truss construction suitable for use in the drive-in storage rack shown in FIG. 4.

Very generally, storage rack structures, including those of the types illustrated in theafore-mentioned U. S. patents, are usually constructed of individual truss sections which are suitably structurally interconnected with one another so as to provide a three-dimensional storage matrix. It has been found that by constructing the truss sections which border the service aisles between facing storage rack arrangements in a manner to recess the front bottom portions thereof, narrower service aisles can be tolerated.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an improved version of a selective-type storage rack 11 of the general type disclosed in aforementioned U. S. Pat. No. 2,932,368. The illustrated selective storage rack structure 11 is one which is sometimes termed a case goods picking rack because it is designed to facilitate flow of the goods through the storage rack bays so that the movement of the case goods is on a first in-first out basis. This type of structure is advantageously employed, for example, in warehousing operations for foods and other similar types of material having limited shelf life.

The installation has a number of parallel storage arrays each of which include a number of sideby-side bays (as shown in FIG. 2). The bays may have any desired depth, and each array may extend for any distance desired, which distance may likely be a major dimension of the length of the warehouse facility. As seen in FIG. 1, each selective storage rack array 13 is separated on the front side thereof from the next adjacent array by a service aisle l7 and on the rear side thereof by suitable conveying means 19. In the illustrated arrangement, case goods, preferably in palletized form if desired, are delivered to the front of each storage bay 15 by power'driven lift equipment, such as the straddle truck 53 that is illustrated or, for example, a counterweighted truck. As the goods stored is needed, it is manually removed from the storage bays [5 and loaded onto the longitudinal conveyors 19 for transfer to the desired receiving location. In the illustrated installation, a plurality of superimposed conveyors 19 are generally located above floor level, depending upon the height of the overall storage structure. Reserve pallet storage is established in the floor level storage bays 15.

Referring now to the details of the illustrated rack construction, the selective racks 11 are made up of a plurality of vertical trusses 21 which are interconnected by horizontal beams 23 to form the longitudinally extending storage rack arrays 13. As can be seen in FIG. 2, an individual storage bay 15 is defined between each adjacent pair of trusses 21. Each of the vertical trusses 21 includes a pair of vertical members or columns 25,27. The front column 27 is shorter than the rear column 25 for a purpose described hereinafter. As is shown in FIG. 2, the vertical columns 25,27 have patterns of holes spaced at vertical levels, and it is via these holes that the interconnection is made between the trusses 21 and the horizontal beams 23 using suitable structural locks 29. The illustrated structural locks 29 include angle iron slotted brackets which are affixed to both ends of the beams 23 and which are connected via removable locking pins that are inserted through the hole patterns in the columns at the desired vertical levels. The illustrated structural locks 29 are described in detail in the aforementioned US Pat. No. 2,932,368.

As best seen in FIG. 1, each storage bay includes a number of superposed storage tiers each of which is defined by a pair of load-bearing beams 23 extending respectively between the front columns 27 and between the rear columns 25 .of adjacent trusses 21. It can be seen that the front beam of each tier-defining pair of beams 23 is attached to the front truss columns 27 at a vertical level slightly higher than the beam attached to the rear columns 25 of the same two trusses 21. In the illustrated embodiment, two side-by-side roller conveyor sections 31 are supported between these front and rear beams for each storage tier, which roller conveyor sections have a length substantially equal to the depth of the storage bay 15. Thus, it can be seen that pallets of case goods loaded into the storage array at the front entrances to the bays will be gravity fed to the rear of the bay adjacent the longitudinal conveyors l9. Suitable stops 33, as illustrated in dotted outline in FIG. 1, are provided adjacent the rear end of each conveyor section 31 to prevent the pallet from moving therepast along the surface of the conveyor.

As can also be seen in FIG. 1, adjacent pairs of storage arrays 13 are interconnected via horizontal connecting members 35 which double as supports for the receiving conveyors 19. These horizontal connectors also support longitudinally extending walkways 37 which are located in flanking relation to each of the conveyors. The walkways 37 provide platforms along which workers may walk in proceeding from storage bay to storage bay, manually removing the casegoods desired and placing it upon the receiving conveyor 19.

The illustrated trusses 21, in addition to including the aforementioned front and rear vertical columns 25 and 27, also include a plurality of spacers 39 which extend between and are suitably affixed, as by welding, to the front and rear columns. These spacers define the depth of the storage bays 15. Connected to the bottom of the front column 27 is a diagonal member or strut 41 which extends to the floor and angles toward the rear column member. A short bottom member 43 extends between and is affixed to the lower end of the rear column 25 and the lower end of the diagonal member 41. Both diagonal member 41 and the bottom member 43 are preferably channels having flanges set sufficiently far apart to span the width and flank the exterior surfaces of the columns 25,27. Such use of channels provides adequate load-bearing strength and facilitates welded interconnection in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2.

A shorter spacer 45 extends horizontally between and is rigidly affixed to the rear column 25 and the diagonal member 41 at a location near midpoint of the diagonal member. In the illustrated embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, X-bracing 47 is employed at suitable locations between adjacent horizontal spacers 39. Single inclined braces are employed in the lower portion of each truss 21. One brace 49 extends from the point of intersection between the lowermost spacer 39 and the rear column 25 to the point of intersection between the diagonal member 41 and the short spacer 45. Another inclined brace 51 is located therebelow, extending from the point of intersection of the short spacer 45 and the diagonal member 41 to the intersection of the rear vertical column 25 and the bottom member 43. The bracing pattern illustrated provides trusses 21 which exhibit good rigidity and are extremely resistant to racking.

As is best seen in FIG. 1, the incorporation of the diagonal member 41 in the truss structure 21 recesses the front bottom portion of the truss at a very important location. The provision of these recesses permits an overall warehouse configuration to be designed with narrower aisles 17 between adjacent storage arrays 13 as a result of the additional space which is made available through this recessing. Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a straddle-type truck 53 of the type designed for use with double-faced pallets 55. This type of truck is capable of operating in fairly narrow aisles as a result of its fairly short length and its tight turning arc.

As can be seen, the base portion of the straddle truck 53 extends laterally outward of the double-face pallet 55 which it handles. However, when the truck reaches the desired bay and the load is raised, clearance for the entry of the base extensions of the straddle truck 53 is provided in regions which are vertically within the confines of the storage rack arrays 13 as a result of the truss recessing. Accordingly, the straddle truck can be turned and maneuvered into position to deposit its load upon the conveyor sections 31 in the desired storage bay 15 when only relatively narrow service aisles 17 are provided between storage rack structures 11. As a result, in an overall warehouse situation where the saving in the width of each aisle 17 is multiplied by the total number of aisles, a significant increase in storage capacity may be effected within the same area.

In addition to potentially significantly increasing the storage capacity of a given type of warehouse installation, the improved storage rack structures 11 incorporating the recessed trusses 21 require less maintenance and are correspondingly expected to have a longer useful life. In this respect, when power-driven lift equipment is operated on a daily basis in relatively narrow confines of service aisles, it must be expected that there will be occasions when the operator will carelessly strike the storage rack columns while driving or backing the lift equipment. Because of the anticipated dayto-day pounding that it is likely such columns would receive, it has been common to increase the weight of the column that normally would be employed from merely a load-bearing standpoint. The added steel strength of course adds to the construction cost, and recessing of the trusses in the regions bordering the aisles where lift equipment will be operated avoids such potential collisions and obviates any requirement for employing heavier columns. In addition, the greater freedom of movement which the recessed trusses 21 provide may also result in an increase in the speed at which a lift equipment operator can accomplish his work.

Illustrated in FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of a truss which may be used in the storage rack structure 11 wherein prime numbers are used to refer to similar components. The truss 21' is generally similar to the truss 21 in that it includes front and rear vertical columns 27',25, and horizontal spacers 39 and 45'. The truss 21' also includes a pair of bracing members 49' and 51'. However, instead of terminating the bottom member 43' at the point of intersection with the diagonal member 41 the truss 21' is provided with a bottom member 43 which extends slightly forward thereof. The employment of a longer bottom member 43 provides the storage rack structure using the truss 21 with slightly more stability in a fore-and-aft direction without significantly detracting from the advantages of the recessed structure and can also be used to provide a floor guide for the straddle trucks. Although the bottom member 43' extends slightly forward of the lower end of the diagonal member 41' along the floor level itself, there is still a significant setback provided from the front edge of the storage bay, and the amount of recess above the floor level remains substantially unaffected.

Although various storage rack structures may be created with different amounts of recess built thereinto, depending in part upon the particular lift equipment which it is intended to employ to deliver the goods to be stored to the bays, it is preferred that the vertical distance above the floor where the diagonal member 41 begins is at least about equal to and most preferably greater than the depth of the truss 21, Le, the fore-andaft spacing provided by the spacers 39. However, it should be understood that the depth of a truss 21 can vary significantly in different storage applications; for example, trusses may range from about 2 feet to about 6 feet in depth. Accordingly, when trusses exceed about 4 feet in depth, the vertical foreshortening of the front column may be less than the full depth; however, the foreshortening should be greater than onehalf of the depth. Additionally, it is preferred that the diagonal member 41 be disposed at an angle of at least about with the vertical, as exemplified by the angle A depicted in FIG. 1. Employing these criteria, it has been found that storage rack trusses 21 can be constructed which are fully adequate in load-bearing strength while providing the substantial advantages that flow from the recessing of the lower portion of the front vertical column.

Illustrated in FIG. 4 is a drive-in storage rack 61 of the general type of that shown in aforementioned U. S. Pat. No. 2,963,169. The illustrated drive-in rack structure 61 includes a plurality of truss members which are aligned in the fore-and-aft direction. In the illustrated embodiment, pairs of these trusses are aligned with each other to provide what are termed, for reference purposes, forward trusses 63 and rearward trusses 65. The pairs of trusses are spaced apart a distance slightly wider than the width of the standard pallet in order to provide storage bays 67 therebetween. Each pair of aligned trusses are interconnected by fore-and-aft extending rails 69 which are suitably attached thereto by mounting brackets 71. The rails 69 are located at the same vertical height on adjacent trusses and extend into the storage bays 67 to a distance less than the width of the standard pallet. Accordingly, the rails 69 provide for the support of palletized goods in several superposed tiers throughout the depth of each storage bay 67. A suitable rear fence structure 73 interconnects the aligned pairs of truss members in a lateral direction and provides rigidity in the overall storage rack structure 61. The rear fence structure 73 should be understood to include uprights and crossbracing not shown in FIG. 4, but which is illustrated and described in detail in US. Pat. No. 2,963,169.

The rearwardmost truss 65 in each aligned pair includes a pair of uprights or columns 75 which are generally coextensive in height, and this truss is constructed in the general manner illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,963,169. The forward truss 63 of each pair is constructed in accordance with the present invention, and it includes a rear column or upright 77 which has a length greater than a front column or upright 79. A diagonal strut or member 81 extends rearward from the bottom of the front column 79, and a horizontal bottom spacer 83 is suitably affixed, as by welding, at both of its ends to the rear column 77 and to the diagonal member 81 at locations near the respective lower ends thereof. Horizontal spacers 85 are provided at an upper location between the front and rear columns in each truss; however, the main crossbracing in the trusses 63 is provided in the illustrated structure via X-bracing 87 which is disposed at several vertical levels. Additionally, inclined braces 89 are provided extending from the rear column 77 downward to a point on the lower half of the diagonal member 81.

The recessed front trusses 63 incorporated into the drive-in storage rack structure 61 provide this structure with generally the same advantages as mentioned be fore with respect to the selective storage rack structure 11. The lateral service aisle that is provided between the illustrated rack structure 61 and a facing similar rack structure has narrower width requirements than it would have in a drive-in rack structure constructed with forward trusses having the same construction as the illustrated rearward trusses 65. Likewise, the recessing created by the diagonal members 81 at the forward edge of the rack adjacent the service aisle provides substantial additional clearance which greatly reduces the possibility of damage to the trusses by careless operation of power-driven lift equipment.

In addition to the truss constructions shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, other constructions may be employed to obtain various of the advantages of the invention. Shown in FIGS. 5 through 11) are additional alternative embodiment truss structures which have various advantages when employed as structural storage rack components at locations adjacent to aisles that will be traveled by power-driven lift equipment.

FIG. 5 illustrates the lower portion of a truss 121 which may be used as a part of a storage rack structure such as the structure 1 l illustrated and described in de tail hereinbefore. The truss 121 includes a rear column or upright 125 and a front column 127 which are interconnected by fore-and-aft extending horizontal spacers 139, the lowermost spacer 139 being preferably located at the bottom end of the front column 127 and being suitably affixed to both columns, as by welding. A strut 141 extends diagonally rearward from the lower end of the front column 127 to a bottom member 143 which is suitably affixed at its rear end to the lower end of the rear column 125 and which rests upon the floor.

A single long brace 145 is included in the truss 121 in the vertical region adjacent the strut 141, and the lower end of the brace 145 is affixed to the bottom member 143 at a point spaced from the rear column 125 not greater than three-fourths the distance between said front and rear columns. If desired, the brace 145 may be provided by two shorter braces welded to the strut 141 at about the same location. X-bracing 147, or separate diagonal bracing if desired, is provided in the vertical region above the lowermost spacer 139. in the illustrated construction, the lower end of the diagonal strut 141 is affixed to the bottom member 143 at a location generally near the rear end thereof. Depending upon the depth of the truss 121, which is defined by the length of the horizontal spacers 139 and which may vary, for example, from about 2 feet to about 6 feet, the lower end of the strut 141 can be positioned at the intersection between the column 125 and the bottom member 143 or even affixed to the rear column 125 at a location near its lower end, so long as the three members are structurally interconnected at least by one to another.

In any respect, it is noted that the desired recessing is easily achieved with this construction. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the lower end of the strut 141 is located well rearward of the point of intersection between the floor and a line from the lower end of the front column 127 disposed at an angle of 20 to the vertical. Preferably, the lower end of the brace 145 is also located rearward of this point, but because of the slope of the brace 145, its location slightly forward of the point of intersection should not significantly detract from the clearance provided. The upper end of the brace 145 is suitably affixed to the rear column 125 at a location slightly below the level of the spacer 139. Again depending upon the depth of the truss 121, the upper end of the brace 145 could be located at the intersection of the column 125 and the spacer 139 or even affixed to the spacer 139 near the rear end thereof.

FIG. 6 shows the lower portion of a truss 121a wherein a different method of bracing is employed. The truss 121a includes a rear column or upright 125a which extends to the floor and a front column or upright 127a, the lower end of which terminates at a distance well above the floor level. A horizontal spacer 139a extends between and is affixed to the lower end of the front column 127a and the rear column 125a. A bottom member 143a is affixed at its rear end to the rear column 125a and extends forward therefrom. A strut 141a extends diagonally rearward from the lower end of the front column 127a at an angle of greater than 20 to the vertical, as shown in FIG. 6, and the strut is affixed at its lower end to the bottom member 143a.

The truss 121a includes X-bracing 147a above the spacer 139a similar to that indicated with respect to the truss 121. Rigidity in the truss 121a in the vertical region adjacent the strut 141a is provided by a plurality of gusset plates 146. A separate gusset plate 146 is affixed, as by welding, at each of the four comers of the quadrilateral formed by the rear column 125a, the spacer 139a, the strut 141a and the bottom member 143a. Although such bracing may be considered to be less desirable than longitudinal braces in some aspects, it can be employed to impart sufficient rigidity to the lower portion of the truss 121a to effectively resist racking.

FIG. 7 illustrates the lower portion of another embodiment of a truss 121b generally similar to that shown in FIG. 5. The truss 121b has similar front and rear vertical columns 125b, 127b which are interconnected by a horizontal spacer 13% that is affixed to the front column l27b at about its lower end. A bottom member 143b extends forward from the lower end of the rear column 125b, and a strut l4lb extends diagonally rearward from the lower end of the front column l27b to approximately the intersection between the rear column 12512 and the bottom member 143k.

X-bracing 147b, similar to that previously described, is provided in the region vertically above the horizontal spacer 139b. A vertical brace l49b is provided which extends from a location near the middle of the strut l41b down to the bottom member 1431b. A short diagonal brace 145k extends from the point of intersection between the brace 14% and the strut 14lb diagonally upward to near the rear end of horizontal spacer 13%. A short horizontal brace 151b is also provided extending from the point of intersection of the strut 141b with the brace 145b to the rear column 125b, being appropriately affixed at both ends as by welding. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the strut l4lb is disposed at an angle substantially greater than 20 to the vertical. Moreover the vertical strut 14% preferably also has its lower end affixed rearward of the intersection of such a 20 line with the floor. However, it will be seen that, in such an instance where the strut 141b extends diagonally rearward to join the rear column b, greater clearance is provided at a higher level, and the vertical attitude of the brace 14% does not significantly detract therefrom.

FIG. 8 illustrates a forward truss structure 1210 designed for utilization in a drive-in storage rack arrangement, such as that shown in FIG. 4. The forward truss 12lc is interconnected with a rearward truss (not shown) by fore-and-aft extending horizontal rails 153 which are suitably supported by brackets mounted to the truss 121C. The truss 1210 includes a rear vertical column or upright 1250 which extends to the floor and a forward vertical column or upright 1270 which terminates a substantial distance short of the floor. A strut 1416 has its upper end affixed to the lower end of the forward column 1270, and the lower end of the strut 1410 is affixed to the lower end of the rear column l25c. A bottom plate 143c extends forward from the rear column 125a and the strut 1410 at the point of their intersection.

A horizontal spacer 1390 located slightly above the horizontal level of the rail 153. X-bracing 147C is provided between the columns of the truss 1210 just above the spacer 139C. A short horizontal brace l5lc extends from the rear column 125(- to about the mid-point of the strut 1410. A diagonal brace l45c extends from the intersection of the horizontal brace and the strut [41c diagonally upward to an upper location on the rear column 125C.

The fore-and-aft rails 153 are mounted on the front and rear vertical columns by the brackets 155 which are located slightly below the horizontal level of the spacer 139c. The rails 153 structurally tie the forward truss together with a rearward truss, as depicted in FIG. 4, and provide stability to the truss. Thus, in such drivein rack arrangement, the additional stability against tipping in a forward direction provided by the bottom plate 1430 adequately stabilizes the loaded storage rack array wherein substantially all of the weight carried by the rails 153 in the region of the forward truss is transferred to the rear column l25c and its underlying bottom plate 1430. As a result, this drive-in storage rack arrangement permits the strut 14lc to be recessed substantially more than. 20 from the vertical, as can be seen in FIG..8.

FIG. 9 illustrates another alternative embodiment, showing a truss 121d which utilizes a direct overhang to provide the clearance and achieves it by stepping the truss forward at about the vertical level where it is desired to support the second storage tier. The truss 121d is designed for use in a storage rack structure similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The truss 121d includes a rear vertical column 125d which extends to the floor and a front vertical column 127d which terminates a substantial distance therefrom. Horizontal members 139d extend between the forward column 127d and the rearward column 125d and are suitably affixed thereto. A vertical stru't 141d extends from the lowermost horizontal member 139d to a bottom member 143d which is designed to rest upon the floor.

A short horizontal brace 151d extends between and is affixed to the rear column 125d and to the vertical strut 141d. X-bracing 145d is provided above and below the horizontal spacer 151d. X-bracing I47b is also provided vertically above the upper of the two horizontal members 139d, as shown. A diagonal loadbearing member 157 extends from the intersection of the upper horizontal member 139d with the front vertical column 127d to the intersection of the lower horizontal member 139d with the strut 141d. The member 157 effectively serves to transfer the load upon the upper portion of the front column 127d to the strut ll4ld in this construction. Alternatively, a heavy lower horizontal member 139d may be used which will act as a cantilever beam if the diagonal 157 is omitted. A brace 159 is also provided which extends from the rear end of the upper horizontal member 139d to the lower end of the member 157.

The structural arrangement shown in FIG. 9 provides a rectangular region of clearance below the overhanging portion of the truss 121d which provides increased operating area adjacent the aisles in which powerdriven lift equipment can function. As is shown in FIG. 9, the strut 141d preferably has its lower end located just rearward of the intersection of the floor with a line extending from the bottom of the front column 127d and disposed at about 20 from the vertical. To assure stability in the loaded storage rack, the strut l lld is spaced forward of the rear column a distance equal to at least one-half the depth of the truss 121d;

FIG. ltl showsan alternative embodiment of a truss l21e that is generally similar to the truss l2ld. The truss l2le includes arear vertical column or upright l25e which extends to the floor, afrontvertical column or upright 127e whichterminates asubstantial distance short of the floor and an intermediate vertical strut 141e which extends upward beyond-the level-at which the forward column 127'e terminates. A- horizontal spacer l39e extends between and is affixed'to the front and rear vertical columns. A bottom member 143e is affixed to the lower ends of the rearcolumn 125:: and the vertical strut l4le. Aload-bearing diagonal member l57e runs diagonally from the approximate intersection of the spacer l39e and the rear column l25e downward to the lower end of the front vertical column ll27e. At about its mid-point, the load-bearing member l57e is affixed to the upperend of the vertical strut Mle.

Horizontal braces l5le and 151f extend between the rear column 125e, the strut 14le andthe lower end of the front column 127e. A single member that is appropriately cut to fit together with the strut 141e can be employed to provide the braces I5le and 1511f. X-bracing Se is provided in the region between the rear column l25e and the strut 14Ie below the horizontal brace 15 1e. Diagonal braces v159e and 159f are disposed so as to complete an X patternwith the loadbearing member l57e in the region just below the horizontal spacer 139a.

In the truss 121e, the load-bearing diagonal member l57e is placed in tension when the storage rack is loaded, and it transfers the weight carried by the forward column 127a to the strut l4le and to the rear column I25e. The overhang provided by the truss construction provides ample clearance space adjacent the service aisle, as indicated with respect to the truss 121d shown in FIG. 9. So as to assure stability of the storage rack structure, it is preferred that the strut l41e is spaced from the rear column e a distance at least about onehalf of the depth of the truss I2le.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A storage rack adapted for installation upon a floor for service with power-driven lift equipment comprising an upright truss including a pair of parallel vertical members and a plurality of spacers extending therebetween and affixed thereto which space said vertical members a desired horizontal distance apart, said truss being located in a plane extending fore-and-aft with respect to the direction in which goods are supplied to said storage rack, with the rear vertical member extending to the floor and with the front vertical member terminating short of the floor a distance at least equal to one-half the fore-and-aft spacing between said vertical members, said truss including a bottom member located adjacent the floor which is affixed near the lower end of said rear vertical member and extends forward therefrom, said truss also including a strut member structurally interconnecting the lower end of said front vertical member and said bottom member, the lower end of said strut member being located rearward of a point of intersection between the floor and a line lying in the verticalplane of said truss which line extends diagonally rearward from said lower end of said front vertical member at an angle of about 20", a pair of parallel vertical columns spaced laterally of said truss vertical members to define a storage bay therebetween, and means interconnecting said columns and said truss to maintain said lateral spacing which defines the storage bay.

2. A storage rack in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one gusset plate is affixed to said strut member adjacent an end therof and is also affixed to another truss member to which said'strut member is affixed at said'end.

3. A storage rack in accordance with claim ll wherein said bottom member is located to rest upon the floor and wherein said truss includes a brace that is rigidly affixed to said bottom member at a point forward of said rear upright but not greater than about threefourths of said fore-and-aft spacing between said vertical members in said truss, said brace extending diagonally rearward and upward from said bottom member.

4. A storage rack in accordance with claim I wherein said bottom member is located so as to rest upon the floor, wherein said strut extends diagonally rearward from the lower end of said front vertical member, and wherein said truss includes a substantially vertical brace extending upward from said bottom member substantially vertically to said strut to which it is affixed.

5. A storage rack in accordance with claim 4 wherein said truss also includes an additional rigid brace affixed to said strut and extending diagonally upward and rearward therefrom.

6. A storage rack in accordance with claim 1 wherein said strut extends diagonally rearward from the lower end of said front vertical member to a location near the lower end of said rear vertical member to which it is affixed.

7. A storage rack in accordance with claim I wherein a horizontal member extends from said rear vertical member to the lower end of said front vertical member and wherein said strut extends substantially vertically from said horizontal member to the floor, the lower end of said strut being affixed to said bottom member.

8. A storage rack in accordance with claim 7 wherein said strut extends vertically upward to a location above the lower end of said front vertical member and wherein a load-bearing diagonal member extends between and is affixed to the lower end of said front vertical member and to said strut at a location vertically thereabove.

9. A storage rack adapted for installation upon a floor for service with power-driven lift equipment and adapted for storing a plurality of superposed merchandise loads, which storage rack includes a plurality of vertical uprights arranged in at least two fore-and-aft extending rows, said rows of uprights being laterally spaced apart to define a storage bay between adjacent rows, load-supporting horizontal members connected to and supported by said uprights, at least the forwardmost two uprights in one of said rows being rigidly interconnected to form a truss wherein the rear upright extends to the floor and the front upright terminates a distance above the floor level at least about equal to one-half the fore-and-aft spacing between said vertical uprights, said truss including a horizontal structural member extending from said rear upright to said front upright and affixed at its ends thereto, said truss also including a generally vertical strut member extending from the floor to said horizontal structural member at a point substantially rearward of its connection to said front upright so as to provide an overhang, said front upright defining the most forward extension of said truss, and means affixed to and connecting said strut and said rear upright at a location near the lower end thereof.

10. A storage rack in accordance with claim 9 wherein said strut member is substantially parallel to said rear upright and spaced therefrom a distance equal to at least one-half the distance between said front and rear uprights in said truss, and wherein additional rigid bracing is provided extending between and affixed to said rear upright and said strut member.

11. A storage rack in accordance with claim 10 wherein a diagonal member extends between and is af? fixed to said front upright and to the upper end of said strut member.

12. A storage rack in accordance with claim 9 wherein said strut member is parallel to said front and rear uprights and extends vertically upward above the lower end of said front upright and wherein a diagonal member interconnects the lower end of said front upright, said strut, and said rear upright. 

1. A storage rack adapted for installation upon a floor for service with power-driven lift equipment comprising an upright truss including a pair of parallel vertical members and a plurality of spacers extending therebetween and affixed thereto which space said vertical members a desired horizontal distance apart, said truss being located in a plane extending fore-and-aft with respect to the direction in which goods are supplied to said storage rack, with the rear vertical member extending to the floor and with the front vertical member terminating short of the floor a distance at least equal to one-half the fore-and-aft spacing between said vertical members, said truss including a bottom member located adjacent the floor which is affixed near the lower end of said rear vertical member and extends forward therefrom, said truss also including a strut member structurally interconnecting the lower end of said front vertical member and said bottom member, the lower end of said strut member being located rearward of a point of intersection between the floor and a line lying in the vertical plane of said truss which line extends diagonally rearward from said lower end of said front vertical member at an angle of about 20*, a pair of parallel vertical columns spaced laterally of said truss vertical members to define a storage bay therebetween, and means interconnecting said columns and said truss to maintain said lateral spacing which defines the storage bay.
 2. A storage rack in accordanCe with claim 1 wherein at least one gusset plate is affixed to said strut member adjacent an end therof and is also affixed to another truss member to which said strut member is affixed at said end.
 3. A storage rack in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bottom member is located to rest upon the floor and wherein said truss includes a brace that is rigidly affixed to said bottom member at a point forward of said rear upright but not greater than about three-fourths of said fore-and-aft spacing between said vertical members in said truss, said brace extending diagonally rearward and upward from said bottom member.
 4. A storage rack in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bottom member is located so as to rest upon the floor, wherein said strut extends diagonally rearward from the lower end of said front vertical member, and wherein said truss includes a substantially vertical brace extending upward from said bottom member substantially vertically to said strut to which it is affixed.
 5. A storage rack in accordance with claim 4 wherein said truss also includes an additional rigid brace affixed to said strut and extending diagonally upward and rearward therefrom.
 6. A storage rack in accordance with claim 1 wherein said strut extends diagonally rearward from the lower end of said front vertical member to a location near the lower end of said rear vertical member to which it is affixed.
 7. A storage rack in accordance with claim 1 wherein a horizontal member extends from said rear vertical member to the lower end of said front vertical member and wherein said strut extends substantially vertically from said horizontal member to the floor, the lower end of said strut being affixed to said bottom member.
 8. A storage rack in accordance with claim 7 wherein said strut extends vertically upward to a location above the lower end of said front vertical member and wherein a load-bearing diagonal member extends between and is affixed to the lower end of said front vertical member and to said strut at a location vertically thereabove.
 9. A storage rack adapted for installation upon a floor for service with power-driven lift equipment and adapted for storing a plurality of superposed merchandise loads, which storage rack includes a plurality of vertical uprights arranged in at least two fore-and-aft extending rows, said rows of uprights being laterally spaced apart to define a storage bay between adjacent rows, load-supporting horizontal members connected to and supported by said uprights, at least the forwardmost two uprights in one of said rows being rigidly interconnected to form a truss wherein the rear upright extends to the floor and the front upright terminates a distance above the floor level at least about equal to one-half the fore-and-aft spacing between said vertical uprights, said truss including a horizontal structural member extending from said rear upright to said front upright and affixed at its ends thereto, said truss also including a generally vertical strut member extending from the floor to said horizontal structural member at a point substantially rearward of its connection to said front upright so as to provide an overhang, said front upright defining the most forward extension of said truss, and means affixed to and connecting said strut and said rear upright at a location near the lower end thereof.
 10. A storage rack in accordance with claim 9 wherein said strut member is substantially parallel to said rear upright and spaced therefrom a distance equal to at least one-half the distance between said front and rear uprights in said truss, and wherein additional rigid bracing is provided extending between and affixed to said rear upright and said strut member.
 11. A storage rack in accordance with claim 10 wherein a diagonal member extends between and is affixed to said front upright and to the upper end of said strut member.
 12. A storage rack in accordance with claim 9 wherein said strut member is parallel to said front anD rear uprights and extends vertically upward above the lower end of said front upright and wherein a diagonal member interconnects the lower end of said front upright, said strut, and said rear upright. 